Why do you want to move to Seattle? (best cities, apartment)

[TRC2k11]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

Yep. In the last ten months here I've been outdoors more than in the last ten years in TN.

Me too.

I never cared much for outdoor activity in the south because the heat and humidity just made it unbearable.

Here I've gotten into hiking and camping and have done well... I've been to 6,900 ft. on Mt. Rainier and later this summer I have plans to summit Mt. St. Helens in a guided tour group.

There's also climbs like Mt. Si that I want to do this year. So much to do outdoors here and it's great.

[randevan]

Originally Posted by PollyGlott

I chose to retire in the Puget Sound area after 30+ years in sunny San Diego. One reason was the weather - I simply got tired of the sameness of So Cal. I enjoy the different seasons here, without winters being too harsh or summers too hot. The geography was also a big draw - I don't care for the ocean, but love lakes, rivers and hills/mountains. Finally, I always felt that SoCal was somewhat "plastic" or non-genuine, if that makes any sense. Here, I feel that life, and people in general, are more down-to-earth.
At any rate, the PNW affects different people in many different ways, so it would be interesting to get your take on it after you've moved! Best of luck!

I lived in Santa Barbara for 35 years, where I had a great job and a view of the Pacific Ocean out my office window. When that came to an end, the decision was to take early retirement or look for another job.
We had vacationed in the PNW a dozen times and always felt that it should be our "true" home. We were never beach people, and the weather in SoCal was so boring, with the brush fires providing the only change. A job opening in Seattle came to me by way of serendipity, so we jumped at it, and here we are after one year. Love the rivers, trees and mountains and the weather. I finally get to use my raingague and barometer. There is no going back to SoCal for us.

[XXVII]

Originally Posted by winteriscoming24

...I have been attending school in West TX for the past 4 years. I'm sick of TX, sick of CA, and between graduating college and marriage, now is the time for me to take these adventures.

I've always felt this weird pull to the PNW

I'm 23 and have lived in West Texas pretty much my entire life. My girlfriend and I are saving money to move to Olympia hopefully in October 2012. I can't wait! I visited Seattle on vacation in November 2010 and loved it. I visit these forums all the time to read about Olympia, Seattle, and Washington in general, and the more I read, the more I want to go NOW.

The weather, scenery, liberalism, and complete-opposite-ness-of-Texas are why I want to move so badly. Take the weather forecast for example: the next 10 days here range from 97°F to 106°F, while Olympia's weather for the same time frame looks like 60°F to 71°F.

Can't.
Freakin'.
Wait.

[2ForTheSea]

Among many reasons I want to move there is I want to live somewhere that women would never consider wearing their Manolo Blahniks or Louboutins to the beach and then curse when they sink those 6 inch heels into the sand.
Also--I really like moving.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by 2ForTheSea

Among many reasons I want to move there is I want to live somewhere that women would never consider wearing their Manolo Blahniks or Louboutins to the beach and then curse when they sink those 6 inch heels into the sand.
Also--I really like moving.

Since many of our coastal beaches look like this: Google Image Result for http://www.celebratebig.com/alaska-canada-pacific-northwest-motorcyle-trip/alaska-canada-pacific-northwest-motorcycle-photography/washington-coast-olympic-peninsula-beach-waves.jpg, odds are they would have no interest.

Also, I wish I could edit the last sentence of my comment yesterday; I was in a hurry and it sounds way too wistful. Even very young, we would not have moved here if it didn't make economic sense. We were never like the people that move to Forks because of Twilight. There is a city for everyone, Seattle happened to be right for us but it was a based on many things. They just happened to be so obvious that it took a single day to know. I would never suggest that a person(s) move someplace based on a vacation; otherwise everyone would probably be living in Hawaii. We have way too many people that come here in the summer, decide to move here and hate it after a winter or two.

[rmkiefer07]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Since many of our coastal beaches look like this: Google Image Result for http://www.celebratebig.com/alaska-canada-pacific-northwest-motorcyle-trip/alaska-canada-pacific-northwest-motorcycle-photography/washington-coast-olympic-peninsula-beach-waves.jpg, odds are they would have no interest.

Also, I wish I could edit the last sentence of my comment yesterday; I was in a hurry and it sounds way too wistful. Even very young, we would not have moved here if it didn't make economic sense. We were never like the people that move to Forks because of Twilight. There is a city for everyone, Seattle happened to be right for us but it was a based on many things. They just happened to be so obvious that it took a single day to know. I would never suggest that a person(s) move someplace based on a vacation; otherwise everyone would probably be living in Hawaii. We have way too many people that come here in the summer, decide to move here and hate it after a winter or two.

This is so important. When I moved here twenty years ago, the first trip was in August (need I say more). I made it a point to come out again in January before making a final decision. Too many don't do that and once they experience a winter, regret their decision.

[queenvic]

My reasons for wanting to move to Seattle (it is number 1 on my relocation list):

1. Liberal, down to earth, and educated population

2. Mild summer weather (I'm stuck indoors 4 months out of the year now)

3. People do not do a double-stare at interracial couples

4. Close proximity to Canada

5. Seafood!!!!!

6. Friendly people that mind their own business and I do not need to hear their life story in a grocery line and am not expected or coerced into making ridiculous small talk about meaningless topics (Seattle Freeze, Introvert Central...)

7. Change of seasons

8. Walkable city where people do not look down their nose at people who choose to take public transportation.

9. Natural scenic beauty - not just beaches or flat desert.

10. Pet-friendly

[Do a Barrel Roll]

-A stable weather patter (no humid summer, snowless winters, schizophrenic thunderstorms)
-A tech-savvy based city where computers and video games are seen favorably
-Close to Vancouver and closer to cities that I like (mostly coastal, desert, and mountain West cities)
-Genuine racial integration where IR friendships/relationships flourish and aren't limited by racial boundaries
-Seafood restaurants and shacks are in abundance
-Socially liberal in all of the ways that matter to me (environmentalism, cordial race relations, etc)

[lovingthegreen]

Originally Posted by Seacove

I would never suggest that a person(s) move someplace based on a vacation; otherwise everyone would probably be living in Hawaii. We have way too many people that come here in the summer, decide to move here and hate it after a winter or two.

True, but there is a thing such as love at first sight. But you obviously do need to make sure you understand the whole package before you commit to something, whether it is a new city to live in or a love interest. In regards to Seattle, understanding that winters are completely different than summers (and much, much longer) is one step in that direction. However, you do get a feel for the people in an area on vacation, although this is highly dependent on what you do and where you go on your vacation.

If you ever visit somewhere that intrigues you so much you could see yourself living there, obviously follow up with a very extensive amount of Internet and other research after you get home and, if you do so and it still feels like the perfect place for you, then go back on a trip there but solely with the purpose of seeing if you could see yourself actually live there full-time. But being initially attracted to a place - in terms of living there permanently - on vacation can be done. Just follow that up with research!

As far as why I want to move (return) to the Seattle area ... climate (I honestly love the winters and the summers are pretty fantastic too), people (one of the few places in the world where me and my personality actually fit in), soccer (my favorite sport; it's so cool that it is actually extremely popular there as a spectator sport), nature (water, trails, greenery all around), home (I went to college there and the place has felt like home ever since), vegan-friendly (I eat a diet as close to vegan as possible, and that is so easy to do in Seattle), smartness (generally bright people in Seattle) and realness (people seem more honest and down to earth than in many other places).

[green_mariner]

What attracts me? The mountains, Puget Sound, the summers aren't hot like they are in Atlanta. I also used to live in the Seattle area. Seattle just has a different vibe. I can't really describe it.

Being a transplanted Mariners fan, and a Sounders FC fan, Seattle seems like a better place for me. In the Atlanta area, basically very little, if any, soccer. Hot and humid, and the place is way too sprawled out compared to Seattle.

As for the culture, I'm okay with overcast weather and I like coffee. I like to go cycling, kayaking, rafting, and I'm a bit of a nerd. I think in many ways Seattle is a better fit for me.